IIt had to come out, it seems. Gaëtan Clerc did not like the refereeing of Antarès, Saturday December 21, red marks on the arms as evidence at a press conference. “I still have to say that I have the impression that we were not respected by the refereeing body. I like them but we got knocked out, we're scratched everywhere… We have a bit of a feeling of injustice in this match. Even if it meant losing him, we would have liked to be respected. It's not normal, I think. » Whistle parenthesis evacuated, the La Rochelle captain knows how to count and knows that this results in 12 defeats in 13 days, following that of Le Mans (81-71).
With an identical feeling that often overtakes you, tinged with paradox despite a common purpose. Like a disordered robot repeating itself over and over again. Anyone who carefully watches the Stade season in Betclic Élite is sometimes jaded, (almost) always bitter; “at the same time”, three trademarked words, steal from time to time a few notes of “feel good”. From “you never know”, from “it’s only December”, from “still, their start to the match was great”.
A kind of ambiguity providing hope, a little chance. Let's lay the foundations: high-level sport and its elitism do not accept satisfaction in defeat. Inconsistent, inconceivable. But the last two of Yellow and Black (Strasbourg, 71-78) say they are still there. So, any reasons to believe it?
1 No, it smells like a tree, not a Christmas tree
The first leg is almost over and La Rochelle has therefore only won once. Knowing that there remains Asvel at home and Chalon in Chalon, an Elan transfigured since Elric Delord took charge. Above all, the SRB has a permanent problem with the management of high-low times, that of key moments. When he misses the shot to take, the opponent uses the club shoot, or even scaffold shoot. Another problem, the rival's runs, for example to get right back into the match (from 7-23 to 35-30, Saturday). “We put them back in the match they want,” regretted Julien Cortey after Le Mans at the mention of the second quarter. “We shoot quickly, we pass the ball less, we play pick and roll but we no longer move behind the picks. So we take shots that are a little quick, a little forced, they take rebounds, feed off that, they run and we make two or three defensive errors due to oversights. » There is a crippling moment when LR and its rotations are overwhelmed. Worrying because it is recurring.
2 Yes, 2 successes late, 18 days, hope
Without Sam Sessoms (foot) and Jakub Niziol (thigh), the commando mission in yellow and black could have worked. The best is palpable, visible. At one point or another, it will pass, it will pay off. Gaëtan Clerc: “The last two matches brought something. Everyone was in the right stuff. » Tactically, it was also interesting. Coach Cortey on rebounding: “We wanted to put them on half court and control the defensive rebound; they score 5 points on the fast break and take 6 rebounds off. Of course, this is not a victory, and we have a crucial, vital need for it. But we fought. We keep that in mind. We have to stay together and believe in it, and this kind of performance helps us. » A new US 4 position should soon help too, Ryan Hawkins not doing the trick. And Le Portel (15th, current play-off) is only 2 more successes with 18 days to go. Things are going to happen. In the meantime, vacation for the neo-Centurion Jérôme Sanchez and his teammates. Resumption Sunday December 29.
At the end of a somewhat crazy ending, marked by 3 points everywhere, the Espoirs from La Rochelle (14th, 2v-11d) lost at Le Mans 78 to 73 in the curtain-raiser for the pros. They will play again in 2025, Saturday January 11 (5 p.m.), in Chalon.
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